Alexandre Lacazette

Ricky1985

[Twitter]

Might as well start a thread for Monsieur Lacazette. I think it's safe to say our interest is genuine. The fact that no one has started a thread until now says quite a bit about the level of excitement he generates around here.

The thing is he's a genuinely good player that would score goals, but I want Henry not Wiltord! I'll have to be more realistic if Mbappé announces he's off to Madrid or staying at Monaco.

If the deal of the decade doesn't happen - perish the thought - then I think there's a very good chance we get this guy.

goon

I think he's most likely plan b. If he is our main forward signing this summer we need to sign up Alexis to a new deal one way or another.

Irishgunner

I wouldn't say no but I'm not mad about him

Gazza M

people point to his scoring record as a big seling point but tbf giroud scored 25 in his last season with montpellier. he'd probably have a comparable record to laczette had he stayed in france

Ricky1985

Lyon aren't the best team in France, as were Montpellier that season, to be fair.

goon

I don't think it's always an advantage to be playing for the best sides for goalscorers. Less space, less time, deeper defenses, more pressure mentally etc.

Klaus

Montpellier were the Leicester of that season though. They didn't have a fraction of the money and quality Lyon do.

Anyway, no thanks to Lacazette. What a shit summer this would be if he turned out to be the striker we burned most of our transfer budget on.

Segway

I think I'm one of the few who are excited by this guy. He's not in the class of Mbappé but he'd pretty much be a guarantee to score at least 20 league goals for us next season. Players like that are rare.

Not a flashy player, but intelligent with his runs, hard working, pacey and a lethal finisher.

Clrnc

I wonder how much Lyon wants for Lacazette this time round when they rejected our 45m bid last summer.

BWoolley

Wouldn't want him here. Waste of money, time and would be a complete letdown. Rather pay another 10 mil for Morata (if we can still get him) or get Werner and a good inside forward and play Alexis at point.

goon

10 of his 28 goals were penalties, we don't get awarded penalties over here so that's already a big hit to his figures.

Ricky1985

On the other hand, he is a particularly outstanding penalty taker. Something we haven't had for a long time now.

flobaba

Haha. The French Darren Bent has his own thread.

Qwiss

I'd be happy to sign him but I wouldn't want Giroud to move in a swap deal. Lacazette with Giroud as back up would be pretty decent. Lacazette with Welbeck(when fit) as back up would be a bit shit.

Ricky1985

That's not realistic in a World Cup year though, mate. Giroud will be absolutely desperate to play every game he can, he's already said pretty clearly last week that he's not going to put up with playing as few games as he did last season. To make things worse, Lacazette is a direct rival for his spot front and centre for France in Russia.

Qwiss

Of course its realistic. Giroud is under contract and has retained his spot for France despite having limited time this year. If anything having a regular but reduced schedule should help him. He's clearly not up to a full season plus a world cup.

Jed

Don't rate him. Giroud starts over him for France and that says it all.

Ricky1985

Qwiss! wrote:
Of course its realistic. Giroud is under contract and has retained his spot for France despite having limited time this year. If anything having a regular but reduced schedule should help him. He's clearly not up to a full season plus a world cup.

I wouldn't agree he's not up to it, he's as fit and durable as they come. It's easy to say he's under contract and that's that, but in reality it'd be a much harder sell to Giroud when he's sitting on the bench watching Lacazette.

Qwiss

He's shows over a number of seasons now that that the longer he plays without rest the less he scores. He's durable but he succumbs to fatigue after a while and the goals dry up. His goals to minutes ratio for this season was 2nd only to Kane in the PL and thats not something that would be true if he played every game.

If Giroud goes (as well as Sanchez) then we would need 2 strikers. It makes no sense to sell Giroud this summer. Letting him run down his contract shouldn't be such a big deal.

QuincyAbeyie

@Rick You said it yourself, it's a world cup year. If we choose to keep Giroud, he can't exactly refuse to play.